Green Bay Packers Mock Draft Battle 4.0
By Paul Bretl
Mike: Pick 62 – Brandon Aiyuk WR, Arizona State
It’s about time the Green Bay Packers get back into tradition with taking a highly talented receiver in the second round. It’s worked pretty consistently for almost two decades. Aiyuk is a true home run threat at the position and his ability after the catch is great. There’s plenty of work to be done to become a refined player, especially when it comes to press coverage, but he can step onto the field right away and make defenses pay attention to him, opening things up for Matt LaFleur’s offense.
As a slot receiver, Aiyuk can immediately contribute on short passes with the ability to take any play the distance. Plus, he can return kicks alongside Tyler Ervin. The pure talent is there and worth it in the second round to help the Packers offense take that next step.
Kenny: Pick 36 – Isaiah Wilson OT, Georgia
In a very top-heavy left tackle class with tons of talent in the first round, Wilson is a great value pick that will likely slide into the second round. Trading back a few picks to get another top-100 selection and still getting a great player at a position of need would be a great move for the Packers.
The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line for 2020 isn’t bad, but Wilson could come in and compete with Rick Wagner for the starting right tackle spot. He also would provide a long-term solution, as the Packers have very few linemen locked in beyond next season. At 6’6″ 350 pounds and pounding out 26 bench reps at the combine, he has all the size and strength needed to play the position. He is a bit unpolished, but if he needs to sit behind Wagner for a year and work on things to then become an above-average starter for years to come, I think that’s worth it.
Kenny: Pick 62 – Brandon Aiyuk WR – Arizona State
The Green Bay Packers’ offense needs explosiveness. They need a speedster like Brandon Aiyuk to use for quickness in the slot, to take the top off of the defense, and to use on gadget plays. Aiyuk checks all the boxes and he would be a huge weapon for Rodgers.
The Packers’ front office loves explosive athletes and Aiyuk perfectly fits the bill. His 128-inch broad jump ranked him sixth for wide receivers and his 40-inch vertical jump ranked him fifth. This class is extremely unpredictable and Aiyuk could go in the first round, but if he falls to pick 62 as he did in this simulation, he’d be a huge home run pick. Not having to use a first-round pick and still getting a big impact offensive player is the ideal situation for the Packers.
Paul: Pick 62 – Zack Baun LB, Wisconsin
Zack Baun is a bit undersized for an edge-rusher which is why he will likely move to off-ball linebacker, but it’s his versatility that has made him a coveted prospect. At Wisconsin we saw him pressure the quarterback, defend against the run, and drop into coverage. This skill set is what NFL teams are looking for in today’s linebacker and he would be a great fit for Mike Pettine’s defense.